Just as the truth of this divine promise [baptism], once pronounced over us, continues until death, so our faith in it ought never to cease, but to be nourished and strengthened until death by the continual remembrance of this promise made to us in baptism. Therefore, when we rise from our sins or repent, we are merely returning to the power and the faith of baptism from which we fell, and finding our way back to the promise then made to us, which we deserted when we sinned. For the truth of the promise once made remains steadfast, always ready to receive us back with open arms when we return….
It will therefore be no small gain to a penitent to remember above all his baptism, and, confidently calling to mind the divine promise which he has forsaken, acknowledge that promise before his Lord, rejoicing that he is still within the fortress of salvation because he has been baptized, and abhorring his wicked ingratitude in falling away from its faith and truth. His heart will find wonderful comfort and will be encouraged to hope for mercy when he considers that the promise which God made to him, which cannot possibly lie, is still unbroken and unchanged, and indeed, cannot be changed by sins, as Paul says (II Tim. 2[:13]: “If we are faithless, he remains faithful – for he cannot deny himself.” This truth of God, I say, will sustain him, so that if all else should fail, this truth, if he believes in it, will not fail him. In it the penitent has a shield against all assaults of the scornful enemy, an answer to the sins that disturb his conscience, an antidote for the dread of death and judgment, and a comfort in every temptation – namely, this one truth – when he says: “God is faithful in his promises [Heb. 10:23; 11:11] and I received his sign in baptism. If God is for me, who is against me?” [Rom. 8:31].
From the Treasury of Daily Prayer, Concordia Publishing House, 2008, pp. 1166-1167.
“God is faithful in his promises [Heb. 10:23; 11:11] and I received his sign in baptism. If God is for me, who is against me?” [Rom. 8:31].”
So then, is baptism merely a sign? Or does something really happen there?
(just playing devil’s advocate)
Hi Steve,
Realizing that you’re playing devil’s advocate … I don’t think Luther is saying that baptism is merely a sign.
We receive the Name of the Triune God in baptism (Matt. 28:19), along with the promise of: 1) the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38), 2) dying and rising with Christ (Romans 6), 3) being clothed with Christ (Galatians 3:27), 4) salvation (1 Peter 3:21-22), etc. The external “sign” is tied to the Word of God. God’s promises are attached to baptism. God gives us all these wonderful gifts attached to simple water that we can see and feel and touch, so that we can know beyond a shadow of a doubt that God is for us. It’s God applying all these promises to us personally, in an external and objective way.